This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Our room at the Renaissance seemed nice enough for a 1 night stay, although the bathroom was a bit dated. We were soon asleep, although I tend not to sleep well when I know I have to wake up for a flight the next day!
Next morning we took a taxi to T3 (11 for the two of us seemed like a good deal, compared to 4 each for the Heathrow bus stopping at other hotels and terminals on the way). Bag drop was empty and we walked straight up to a desk and were checked in at about 6.45am.
Off to security which seemed relatively quiet. After 2 mins in the queue I remembered that I needed to pick up my money from Travelex! So we came back out and queued for 10 mins to get our money. By this time security was busy, and it took about 30 mins to get through. It never ceases to amaze me how many people look shocked that they have to take off their coats, belts etc when they have seen 50 or so people ahead of them having to do the same thing. One man had a 5 min debate with the staff about the liquids they were taking off him.
Finally in the departure lounge around 7.45am, time for a sausage sandwich, and the gate was announced at 8.30am, for a 9.30 departure. Off to Gate 3. Boarding began around 9.05am, but as we were in the front cabin of economy, it was around 9.20 before we were called. Push back around 10 mins late, but little queue for take off and we were soon in the air.
It was snowing in New York, and the captain announced that we had taken on extra fuel to allow us to circle for a few hours before we needed to divert! He also mentioned that the captain and first officer of the flight were brothers - this can't happen too often!
Service throughout the flight was efficient, and there were plenty of water/juice runs, something I have previosuly been impressed with on Virgin as you don't always get it. It turned out that the sausage sandwich in the airport was a good idea, as breakfast was just a chocolate muffin. In the past I've always had a main meal after take off followed by a snack later in the flight, although I've never been on VS3 before. By the time the main meal came round a couple of hours before arrival, I was starving! However I did enjoy the beef stew & veg.
A smooth flight, with the time passed by watching The Simpons Movie (I can never concentrate properly on files while flying, so always pick light films!). Before long, we were decending, and touched down at a snow covered New York at 12.45, 15 mins late. The runways were clear, but many of the taxiways still had snow on them, so it was a very slow taxi to the terminal. We were overtaken by a Swiss aircraft which is obviously more used to the conditions!
On arrival, we walked quickly to overtake as many people as possible, from both our flight and the Swiss, one and managed to get through immigration in 15 mins. The quick walk paid off, as the queue was 4 times longer by the time we were at the front, and there were only 2 channles open, these being some of the first European arrivals of the day.
Bags off shortly afterwards, and we were soon in a taxi to Manhattan for our 3 night stay at the Sofitel. I can recommend this hotel. The rooms are slightly smaller than other hotels I have stayed at in NY, but they are in very good condition, and the bathrooms are excellent.
Mark
